CHAPTER XXII.AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
The sight of the three men with the stolen diamonds spread out between them was an interesting one to Ford and myself. The trio had a lantern, and in the rays of this the precious stones sparkled radiantly.
“If we could only dash in and scoop the pile,” whispered my companion.
“We want to scoop the men as well,” I whispered in return. “It won’t do to let them escape now we have found out their hiding-place.”
There was a brief silence, and then Mr. Norton continued,—
“We’ve had a harder time getting this stuff than we anticipated, boys. If I had known what a job it would be I would never have agreed to the plan when it came up.”
“It wouldn’t have been so hard if you had listened to my way,” put in Yates. “I can’t see why you wanted to drag in that boy over at the mill.”
“That’s because you are not up to all the tricksof the trade,” laughed Norton. “If he had been anyway pliable we would all have escaped without half trying, and perhaps with more booty.”
“Oh, I understand it’s a big thing to stand in with some one in the neighborhood,” remarked Avery. “It helped me considerable in Baltimore. But this plan was so roundabout.”
“That was because things happened as they did,” replied Mr. Norton. “If I hadn’t fallen in with Stone out West everything would have been different.”
“Well, we’ve got the stones, and now the thing is to get out of the neighborhood as quickly as possible,” said Avery. “You are known, and I suppose we will be soon.”
“Yes.” Mr. Norton paused. “Come, let us examine the diamonds, and divide them as evenly as possible.”
“All right. There are just fifteen of them, not counting the one that was lost in the mill when you drugged the boy,” said Yates. “Who is to lose that?”
“I drugged the boy for the good of the party,” explained Mr. Norton; “it was better and handier than tying him. I am sure he doesn’t know a thing of what happened that night.”
“Don’t be too sure of that,” I muttered.
In the meanwhile the diamonds were carefully examined, and after many comments divided into three little heaps. Then Mr. Norton got out some strips of paper, and they drew lots.
I motioned for Ford to follow me to a spot some distance away.
“What shall we do?” he asked, as soon as we were out of hearing.
“They are getting ready to leave,” I said. “One of us ought to let the police know. It is impossible for us to capture the three of them.”
“One of us ought to stay here,” said my companion.
“Suppose I do that?” I suggested. “You can take the Mary and run over to Bayport, and return as quickly as possible.”
“But if they leave in the meanwhile?”
“Then I will follow them, and leave directions on a slip of paper pinned to this tree, so that you can follow.”
“That’s a good idea. But aren’t you afraid to stay alone?”
“No.”
“Don’t let them discover you. Remember, a boy can’t stand much show against three men.”
“I’ll be careful, Dan. Of course you know enough to come back as soon as possible.”
“Trust me for that, even if I have to come alone. I won’t be gone more than an hour and a half.”
“All right. Now you had better start without delay.”
A moment later Ford was gone. For an instant my heart sank as I realized that I was alone. Then I pulled myself together, and resolved that come what might I would do all in my power to capture the three lawless men.
I tiptoed my way back to the spot where the trio were sitting, discussing the best plan for leaving Rock Island.
“It will be risky business to use the Catch Me,” observed Mr. Norton. “Somebody might be on the lookout for that craft, and the moment we were spotted that would be the end of the whole matter.”
“One thing is certain,” put in Yates, “we must leave before daylight if possible. To remain longer, when all the police are on our track, is foolish. The question is, are we going together, or are we going to separate?”
“I move we separate,” said Avery. “It will lessen the chances of capture. We can come together in Philadelphia.”
“It’s no fool of a job getting away in this darkness,” remarked Yates. “It’s as dark as pitch, and I don’t know a thing about the island or the lake shore.”
“You are no worse off than I,” replied Avery. “I’ve only been around for a few days, and those were spent principally about Bayport.”
“Let us go down to the shore, and see how the land lays,” suggested Mr. Norton.
This was agreed to, and a moment later the three rose and made a move for the spot where the Catch Me had landed.
When they were out of sight I hastily struck a match and scrawled these words on a bit of paper:—
“Gone to shore where the Catch Me was beached.”
This brief message I pinned fast to the bark of a tree and then followed the men.
As I moved along my thoughts were busy, thinking over what I had heard. It was a surprise to me to learn that the robbery had been so perfectly planned, and that I had been dragged into it because to do so was a trick “of the trade,” whatever that might mean.
Mr. Norton and his actions were a perfect mystery to me. He had taken such pains to establish himself as my guardian, and now he seemed willing to let the whole matter drop. Of course he had not expected to be discovered as one of the robbers of the bank, but for all that I—well, I simply couldn’t understand the man.
The men moved along swiftly, and in order to keep them in sight, I had to approach quite close to them. In doing this I was injudicious, and when they suddenly halted, I nearly ran over them.
I checked myself as quickly as possible, but not before I had made considerable noise, which reached the ears of the entire party at once.
“What was that?” exclaimed Mr. Norton.
“Somebody following us!” cried Avery. “Hullo, there! who are you?” he called out, as he made a dash back.
I made no reply, but continued to retreat. In a moment the whole party were in pursuit.
“We must catch him, whoever he is,” cried Mr. Norton. “I shouldn’t wonder if it is one of the fellows that followed me in the boat.”
“Why not leave him go and skip ourselves?” asked Yates, halting.
“No, no,” put in Avery. “If he is alone he will put others on our track. He has overheard all we have said. Catch him!”
And they made after me with renewed vigor.
But I was nimble of foot, and was soon a fair distance away. In front of me I saw a large cedar-tree, and it did not take me long to climb into this and secrete myself among the branches.
As I did so, the party burst into the vacant space below.
“Phew! but he can run, whoever he is,” exclaimed Avery, puffing.
“Listen!” cried Mr. Norton; and they all did so.
I kept an absolute silence, and nothing but the croaking of frogs and the lonely hooting of an owl broke the stillness.
“It’s no use,” he went on. “The fellow, whoever he is, has got away, and it’s worse than hunting for a pin in a haystack to try to find him.”
The other two were silent, and by looking down I saw Avery scratch his forehead.
“It’s funny that he could have got away so quickly,” he said. “We were right on his heels.”
“Perhaps it was Reuben,” said Mr. Norton suddenly. “I take it that he is mighty nimble on his feet.”
“Yes; but I supposed he was in jail.”
“Might have got out on bail. I’ve found out that they think a sight of the young miller in Bend Center.”
“A good deal more than they do of his uncle, eh?” chuckled Yates.
And then he and Avery broke out into a coarse laugh, in which Mr. Norton was forced to join.
“Let us forget that,” said the latter finally. “It’s a good joke on me, I suppose; but we’ve got serious business ahead. Come, we will make for the shore again.”
And he turned to do so. While they still hesitated, Avery flashed the rays of the lantern about; and to take advantage of the light thus afforded toget a good look at the two strangers, I leaned far down.
In doing this I forgot to hold my cap, and presently it left my head, and before I could stop it, it went sailing straight to Mr. Norton’s feet.
“What’s this?” he cried, starting back.
Then he picked up the cap and examined it.
“Reuben Stone’s cap!” he ejaculated. “I’ll wager a thousand dollars he’s up that tree!”